Dwight Howard can't play, but the Los Angeles Lakers aren't going to sit there and take it.

General manager Mitch Kupchak says the Lakers have filed a complaint with the NBA about hard fouls on Howard, who reinjured his right shoulder during a Jan. 30 loss to the Phoenix Suns. Howard has missed the Lakers' two games since.

"There's a protocol to airing opinions or complaints with the NBA. And we've done that," Kupchak told the Los Angeles Times. "The game has evolved and like a lot of other sports where attention is now being given to protect players, the NBA is interested in doing so as well. I don't know if they will review our concerns, but (hard fouls) have resulted in injury to one of our players."

The move isn't unprecedented, but it does reveal some concerns. Howard may be the strongest, most physically gifted player in the NBA, but that only allows teams to defend him harder. He's not quite the immovable force of Shaquille O'Neal, but he similarly deals with overt aggression from defenders.

In a separate interview, with Newsdayof Long Island, N.Y., Kupchak said the Lakers are sticking with the plan, coming out with a definitive statement opposing Howard trade rumors and talk of firing coach Mike D'Antoni.

"We're very happy with Mike D'Antoni," Kupchak said. "I think when he took the job I think he thought Nash [fractured left leg] might be out a week or two. Not two months. Getting everybody on the same page took a little longer than expected. Not to say it's been smooth sailing, that's for sure."

Asked about his remaining options to salvage this season, Kupchak said, "We will not make a trade. We will not trade Dwight Howard. We have no intention of making a trade. It's unlikely that we'll make any trade with any of our principal players. To make another change at this time of the year being behind the eight-ball like we are, I think that would just make it more difficult. The talent is there. We have to find our way."

That's all well and good, but the plan also needs to include figuring out a way to keep Howard healthy. He can be the most dominant center in the NBA, but he hasn't been this season. He finally was turning the corner when he reinjured his shoulder, which cost him most of the preseason.

The Lakers have the NBA's largest payroll and are well into luxury tax payments. Howard is a free agent after this season, and no extension has been worked out yet. And though things are on an upswing, the team still sits in 10th place in the Western Conference, 3½ games out of the playoffs.

There's good reason for them to be frustrated. Now they've gone to the league about it.